NEWENT TOWN NEWS

Division Two West Champions - 28 April

Newent Town have won the Division Two West title in their innaugural season in the Uhlsport Hellenic League.

Their 11-2 victory over local rivals Cheltenham Saracens Reserves at Wildsmith Meadow on Thursday night drew in a crowd of 172. The victory was the fourteenth of the twenty game season, drawing four others and losing only two.

Pictured are the Newent management team of the Gloucestershire side holding the Division Two West Champions shield. From left to right is Ben Stringer (Joint Manager), Dennis Stringer (Chairman) and Martin Elton (Joint Manager).

Newent secretary Phil Clarke commented. "We have really enjoyed our first season in the Uhlsport Hellenic League. Pitch and facilities are generally good, refereeing has been better than we had before, hospitality decent and the league administration has been very helpful."

Hopes For Ground Improvement - 17 November

Newent AFC have just received promotion to the Uhlsport Hellenic League but don't want to stop there

The Gloucester Press state, the football club is aiming high and wants to build a covered seating stadium with lights in the hope of eventually achieving its goal of lifting the Buildbase FA Vase at Wembley. Newent AFC have the asked for permission to erect a 250-seater stadium and six floodlights at its Wildsmith Meadow ground near Malswick. Officials say the new facilities are needed if the club wants to climb any higher in the Hellenic League where it currently sits in division two.

Chairman Dennis Stringer said the club wants to eventually play in cup tournaments such as the FA vase. ”We are an ambitious club,” he said. “Our aim is to eventually play in competitions such as the FA Vase, but to take the next step we are required to have a small stadium.” Mr Stringer has been associated with the club for nearly 30 years and his two sons manage and play for Newent AFC.

The football club owns its own ground and will shortly start extending the clubhouse, which will be higher than the new stand.The 27 metre long new stand will be located on the eastern side of the pitch near the clubhouse and will consist of five rows of terracing with five bays of 50 seats each. Officials say this means the club can start with 50 seats and keep building as and when required and grants come in.The new floodlights will be higher and brighter than the five there at present, but the club say they will only be used once or twice a week at most and are needed if Newent AFC wants to move up.

Mr Stringer believes the application will be successful because the club does not have many neighbours. But he added: “If they did say ‘No’ it would halt our progression as a club and stop us drawing with with slightly bigger local sides. If we can’t get the lights the club cannot move forward. It has happened to other clubs and they have ended up folding because they could not progress any further and started losing players.”

The planning application was backed by Newent Town Council on Monday night but will be decided by the Forest of Dean District Council at a future date. "This is a step in the right direction," said Mr Stringer after the meeting. "I am really pleased that the town council have supported us and I hope that the Forest of Dean take the same view."

Newent Rugby Club have received permission to erect six 13 metre high columns supporting eight floodlights at their ground in the locality.